Railway journal box lubricator



J. J. HENNEssY 2,272,199

RAILWAY JOURNAL BOX LUBRICATOR Filed Dec. 1, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 10, 1942.

Feb. 10, 1942.

J. J. HENNESSY RAILWAY JOURNAL BOX LUBRICATOR Filed Dec. 1, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JAMES J. HENNESSY BY ATTO NEY Patented Feb. 10, 1942 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

The invention relates to railway journal lubricators of the type which utilizes the longitudinal motion of the journal in the journal box to actuate a mechanical pump to supply lubricant from a reservoir at the bottom of the box to the journal, preferably through a distributor adapted to spread the lubricant over a substantial area of the journal.

It is diflicult to insert a pump and distributor device large enough to function effectively into an ordinary outside bearing box, the lloor of which extends beneath the journal and then upwardly and outwardly beyond the end of the journal to an opening which is above the level of the bottom of the journal. The main object of the present invention is to construct a device of the class described so that it may be readilyr applied to and removed from a journal box and beneath the journal without removing the journal box from the journal and without jacking up the box, removing the brass and wedge and lowering the box to provide greater clearance between the journal and the bottom of the box and the box opening to facilitate passage of the pump.

A more detailed object is the provision of a pumping member in short sections to facilitate its insertion into the journal box, there being structure whereby all sections when in operative position may function as a unit.

Another object is to provide substantial pumping capacity without necessarily using a large diameter or long stroke pump whereby the size oi the pump structure may be kept small enough to permit the pump section to be readily applied to and removed from the box with the journal in normal position therein.

Another object is to simplify the pump and distributor construction and render it economical in rst cost and maintenance and easily installed as is requisite for any device which is intended for use in large quantities on railway rolling stock.

These and other detail objects of the invention which will appear from the following description are attained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through an ordinary American Association of Railways standard journal box and lubricating device embodying the invention, the associated journal, bearing and wedge being illustrated also.

Figure 2 is a detail section taken on line 2-2 in Figure 5.

Figure 3 is a detail transverse vertical section taken on line 3-3 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top view of the pump and distributor in the box, the upper portion of the box and the journal being removed.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially on line 5-5 in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail horizontal section through the pump .member and is taken on line 6 6 in Figure 1.

Figure 7l is a diagrammatic vertical section through 'the .journal box illustrating the manner in which the pump and distributor are inserted into the journal box.

The journal l and the box 2 are of the usual construction and are illustrated in the relative position assumed when the box is applied to the journal with the usual bearing 3 and wedge 4. The box iloor 5 curves forwardly and upwardly at 6 to the opening 'l normally closed by a spring pressed door (not shown). The outer end of the journal includes the usual collar 8 provided for retaining the bearing and wedge in place, and the rear end of the box has the usual pocket 9 for a dust guard lll which also serves as a re tainer for lubricant tending to flow outwardly from the journal or to be splashed upwardly and outwardly from the reservoir formed by the lower portion of the box.

The pumping unit comprises two sections, a pump cylinder member l2 and a base member l, hinged together to facilitate their insertion into the journal box and under the journal. Pump member l2 includes a plurality of horizontally disposed cylinders l5 receiving pistons i6. The pistons` are normally projected from the cylinders by springs l1 each compressed between the end of member i3 and a flange l on the outer end of the piston.

Member l 2 is provided with arm-like members I9 extending outwardly and upwardly and mountinga shaft-2 on which are pivoted pump actuating rocker arms 2l each having one end contacting the end ci journal I and the other end contactingthe flanged end of one of pistons i6.

Member l2 is recessed at 22 to admit lubricant L to the cylinder inlets '23. Ball Ichecks 2li permit inlet of lubricant to the cylinder upon outward vstrokes of the pistons but prevent discharge of lubricant to the reservoir upon the return strokes of the pistons.

Pump members l2 and lil are provided with coacting hinge butts 27 and 28 and a headed hinge pin 29 which is held against longitudinal movement by a cross pin 30 (Figure 6). Pump cylinders I5 are cross-connected by a passage Ztl and passages 32, 33 and 34 lead from the pump cylinders through hinge pin 29 to the bottom of an upwardly facing ball socket 26 in member I3.

Pump members l2 and I3 are positioned on the box bottom by a sheet metal plate 35 having a contour fitting the inside of the box and carried on springs 36 which yieldingly support the plate to thrust the packing thereon (described below) against the journal. Another plate 31 cooperates with plate 35 to position the forward portion of member I2.

The distributor unit comprises two main elements, an arcuate plate 40 and a support arm 4I, hinged to each other to accommodate their movement towards each other and to facilitate their insertion into the journal box and under the journal whereupon they may move away from each other to provide a lubricant conduit from pump member I3 to the journal. Overlapping hinge butts 41 and 43 on one end of plate 40 and on one end of arm 4I respectively are pinned together by hinge pin 59 secured in place by a cross pin'l. The other end of arm 4I forms a downwardly facing ball 49 received in socket 26 in base member I3.

Arm 4I has a conduit 52 including an inlet portion 53 provided with a check valve 54. Conduit 52 leads to a passage 56 in pin 50. A port 51 connects passage 56 with a peripheral groove 58 opening to a discharge port 59 in plate 40 from which a depression 60 leads the lubricant to the central lower portion of the plate.

Plate 40 has upstanding sides 6I and intermediate partitions 62 the top edges of which engage the journal. The sides and partitions form open and lubricant containing pockets 63 and grooves 64 provide for the passage of lubricant longitudinally of the journal between these pockets and outwardly from the distributor plate.

A torsion spring 65 has one leg resting on a lug 66 on arm 4I and has another leg engaging the under side of plate 49. The spring thrusts these elements apart to maintain contact between element 49 and socket 28 in member I3 and to maintain contact between the edges of plate 40 and the face of the journal.

Any tendency of plate 40 to move transversely of the box, due to rotation of the journal, will be resisted by arm 4I the lower end of which is held against transverse movement by the seating of ball 49 in socket 26. The ball and socket mounting and the hinge construction of the distributor unit adapts the unit for all variations in the relative positions of the journal and pump member I3. By grasping the right hand edge of plate 40 with the thumb and a hook 61 on ball 49 with an opposing finger, parts 40 and 4I` may be brought together by one hand and slipped under the journal and released; thereupon the two-part pump member I2, I3 may be inserted into the journal and the tapered inner end 68 of member I3 may be slid under ball 49 so that the latter may be seated in socket 26.

The rotating journal, having a substantial portion immersed in the lubricant in plate 40, will pick up an amount of lubricant in excess of the amount received between the journal and bearing. The excess lubricant forms a wedge along the front edge of the bearing which expands outwardly along the full length of the bearing. As the rotation continues, the excess lubricant will drip from the journal on both sides of the lubricant container and fall to the lower portion of the journal box.

To trap and distribute excess lubricant dripping from the journal or overflowing plate 40, wool yarn 'I0 is interposed between plate 35 and the journal. The use of hanks of wool yarn is preferred because the resiliency of the wool fibers tends to hold the surface of the hank against the journal instead of permitting it to drop away from the journal as does cotton Waste. This resiliency may be increased by placing a fiat spring within the hanks as indicated at 1I. Also wool will not absorb water and become soggy and increase in weight so as to drop away from the journal as is characteristic of cotton waste generally used, if it is packed loosely enough to provide for the flow of oil. If packed tight enough to maintain contact with the journal, the short cotton fibers are likely to be pulled up by the journal and become wedged between the journal and the bearing, causing what is commonly known as waste grab which result in a heated journal. Any water accumulated on the surface of the hanks is held against the journal and the friction tends to heat and evaporate the Water instead of permitting it to accumulate in quantities sufficient to interfere with the flow of the lubricant.

Plaiting or braiding the hanks forms interstices or pockets where the hanks cross and a substantial quantity of lubricant is trapped ln these pockets and is available to lubrlcate the journal immediately when car movement begins and before the pump has had time to force a supply of oil to the journal.

Various changes in structural details of the device may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use of such modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims is anticipated.

What, is claimed is:

l. A lubricant distributor for a device of the class described, comprising an arcuate plate arranged to t against the lower portion of a journal, and an arm having a pivotal connection at one end to a side of said plate and extending beneath said plate, there being a lubricant passageway through said arm and said connection to the upper face of said plate.

2. A lubricant distributor as described in claim l which also includes means thrusting the plate and the swinging end of the arm away from each other.

3. A lubricant distributor as described in claim 1 which also includes a spring seated against the swinging portion of the arm and the bottom of the plate and distorted by movement of the plate and arm toward each other whereby the arm may serve as a support for the plate.

4. A lubricant distributor as described in claim 1 which also includes means thrusting the plate and the swinging end of the arm away from each other, there being a hook on the swinging end of said arm, whereby said arm end and the corresponding edge of the plate may be readily gripped by the thumb and nger respectively of a workman to compress said spring and bring said arm against said plate to facilitate the insertion of the unit into a journal box and beneath the journal.

5. A lubricant distributor for a device of the class described, comprising an arcuate plate constructed and arranged to t against the lower portion of a journal and having integral spaced hinge butts at one side edge, an arm below said plate and having a hinge butt extending between said plate hinge butts, a hinge pin extending through said plate and arm hinge butts, there being a lubricant passageway from the swinging end of said arm to the interior of said pin and through one of said plate hinge butts to the upper face of said plate.

6. A lubricant distributor as described in claim 5 in which the swinging end of the arm has a downwardly facing ball contour and at the bottom of said contour is provided with an inlet to the lubricant passageway and with a return check valve.

7. A lubricant distributor unit for a device of the class described, comprising an arcuate plate and a supporting arm therefore having an end hinged to one side of said plate and provided with a lubricant passageway having a discharge outlet into said plate adjacent said side, there being a trough leading from said discharge outlet to the middle portion of said plate.

8. A lubricator distributor for a device of the member and inclined downwardly therefrom,l

there being a passageway through said arm and said rconnection to the upper face of said member whereby lubricant may be conveyed from the lower end of said arm to the journal to which the distributor is applied.

9. A distributor as described in claim 8 in which the lower end of the arm forms a pivot bearing, there being spring means thrusting apart the portions of said member and arm spaced from their connection whereby the member may be yieldingly supported by said arm from the lower end of the latter and the distributor may tilt about said lower end to adapt itself to the journal to which it is applied.

JAMES J. HENNESSY. 

